Luis Severino looks to step up performance Sunday night

Luis Severino #40 of the New York Yankees throws in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Global Life Park in Arlington on April 26, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. Photo Credit: Getty Images/ Rick Yeatts

Luis Severino’s spot in the Yankees’ rotation does not appear to be in jeopardy — yet. He gets another chance to turn around his season Sunday night when he faces the Red Sox in a nationally televised game.

Severino (0-4, 6.31 ERA) is coming off his best start of the season, though only in comparison to his other outings. He lasted six innings against the Orioles, allowing three earned runs and five hits, including two home runs. On April 26, he allowed six runs in three innings against the Rangers.

Pitching coach Larry Rothschild says the organization wants Severino to straighten himself out on the major-league level.

“As long as mentally, we see he’s battling and hanging in there, yeah,’’ Rothschild said Saturday. “If it changes, then you know, you have to look at that. Right now, I think we’re looking at trying to get him through this up here.’’

Rothschild is looking for any hopeful signs. “He had the one bad game in Texas, the other four starts, they haven’t been great but he was hanging in there,’’ he said. “He has been very lucky if you want to deal with luck. It’s not all him, but now it goes on him because it looks like the numbers don’t look good. I think the one game [against the Rangers] is skewed, as far as that’s concerned.’’

“It’s something that you check regularly,’’ Rothschild said. “But right now, I think he’s OK. You know more when the game starts. But right now, I see he feels good about himself. He knows he can get through this. He’s going to battle.’’

Sabathia sees improvement

CC Sabathia doesn’t believe he will need an extended stay on the disabled list after suffering a left groin strain Wednesday against the Orioles. “Good, getting better every day, a little pain,’’ the lefthander said.

Sabathia, who pitched seven scoreless innings against the Orioles despite getting injured in the fourth inning, said there is no way he was coming out of that game. “This is just my thinking,’’ he said. “If I’m going to pull it, I’m gonna pull it. I’m not just going to feel a little bit and then stop. I was pushing it . . . Things happen.I don’t feel like it’s horrible. Hopefully, I can stay fresh, keep my arm fresh and be ready to go.’’

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Joe Girardi said Jacoby Ellsbury’s strained right hip, which required him to leave Friday’s game in the second inning, is “Just sore. It’s day to day. My guess is it’s going to be a couple of days. You just got to see how he responds to treatment. Right now, there’s no plan to put him on the disabled list. Could that change? Of course it could change but we expect it to be a few days and hopefully he’s back.’’

Girardi said Alex Rodriguez (right hamstring) is not doing any baseball-related activities yet. “He’s not really going to do anything in a sense for a week, except mostly treatment, so we real ly don’t know” a timetable for his return.’

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